New guinea Impatiens plant named `Xanthia`

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea Impatiens plant named `Xanthia`, characterized by its large bright orange-colored flowers; mounded and compact growth habit; freely branching plant habit; and dark green, glossy, non-variegated foliage.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea Impatiens plant, botanically known as Impatiens hawkeri, known by the name `Kixant`, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name `Xanthia`.

The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor in Gensingen, Germany. The objective of the breeding program was to develop new varieties that have a uniform plant habit, attractive flower colors, good flower form and numerous flowers per plant.

The new cultivar originated from a cross made by the inventor of a proprietary seedling selection identified as O452 as the male, or pollen parent, with the proprietary seedling selection identified as O67 as the female, or seed patent. The cultivar `Xanthia` was discovered and selected by the inventor as a flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in Gensingen, Germany. Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings taken at Gensingen, Germany, has shown that the unique features of this new Impatiens are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of `Xanthia`. These characteristics in combination distinguish `Xanthia` as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Large bright orange-colored flowers.

2. Mounded and compact growth habit.

3. Freely branching.

4. Dark green, glossy, non-variegated foliage.

The new New Guinea Impatiens is similar in flower color to the New Guinea Impatiens cultivar `Orange` (U.S. plant pat. applied for). However in side-by-side comparisons in Encinitas, Calif., under commercial practice, plants of the new New Guinea Impatiens differed from plants of the cultivar `Orange` in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new New Guinea Impatiens more compact than plants of the cultivar `Orange`.

2. Leaves of plants of the new New Guinea Impatiens are smaller but glossier than leaves of plants of the cultivar `Orange`.

3. Flowers of plants of the new New Guinea Impatiens are larger and more rounded than flowers of plants of the cultivar `Orange`.

4. Peduncles of plants of the new New Guinea Impatiens are shorter and redder than flower spurs of plants of the cultivar `Orange`.

A detailed comparison of plants of the new New Guinea Impatiens and the cultivar `Orange` appears in Chart A at the end of the specification.

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.

The first photograph comprises a top perspective view of a typical plant of `Xanthia`.

The second photograph comprises a close-up view of typical flowers and upper (left) and lower (right) surfaces of leaves of the cultivars `Orange` (top of photo) and `Xanthia` (bottom of photo).

Flower and foliage colors in the photographs may differ from the actual colors due to light reflectance.

The cultivar `Xanthia` has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The following observations, measurements and comparisons describe plants grown 10-cm pots in Encinitas, Calif., under commercial practice in a fiberglass-covered greenhouse with day temperatures ranging from 23 to 29C and night temperatures ranging from 16 to 18C and about 3,000 footcandles.

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

Classification:

Botanical.--Impatiens hawkeri `Xanthia`.

Commerical.--New Guinea Impatiens cv. `Xanthia`.

Parentage:

Male parent.--Proprietary seedling selection O452.

Female parent.--Proprietary seedling selection O67.

Propagation:

type cutting.--Terminal cuttings.

Time to initiate roots.--About 15 days with 21C soil temperature.

Plant description:

Plant form.--Mounded and compact.

Growth habit.--Low vigor. Freely branching, dense and bushy. Suitable for 10 to 25-cm containers.

Plant size.--Height: About 18 cm. Width or spread: About 18 cm.

Lateral branches.--Quantity: Seven to ten. Size: Length: About 8 cm. Diameter: About 1 cm. Internode length: 3 to 4 cm. Color 146A with stripes of 60B.

Foliage description.--Leaves simple, generally symmetrical, abundant, opposite or in whorls of three, horizontal to plant and flat in aspect. Size, largest leaves: Length: About 12 cm. Width: 3.5 to 4 cm. Shape: Ovate with acuminate apex, attenuate base and ciliate margin. Texture: Smooth, glossy. Color: Young foliage, upper surface: Greener than 146A. Young foliage, lower surface: 147C. Fully expanded foliage, upper surface: 147A. Fully expanded foliage, lower surface: 147C. Venation, upper surface: 58C. Venation, lower surface: 59A. Petiole: Size: Length: 4 to 4.5 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm. Color: 182A.

Flower description:

Flower type and habit.--Large bright orange-colored flowers. Freely and continuously flowering. Flowers arise from leaf axils. Usually eight flowers per lateral branch. Flowers positioned at or just above the foliage and face upward or outward. Flowers flat to slightly cupped and rounded rectangular. Flowers persistent.

Flowering season.--Year-round under greenhouse conditions. In the garden, flowering is continuous from spring until fall.

Flower size.--Length: About 7 cm. Width: About 65 cm. Depth: About 5 mm.

Flower buds.--Size Length: About 2.7 cm. Diameter: About 1.4 cm. Shape: Ovoid. Color: Top: 45A. Bottom: Brighter than 40A.

Petals.--Quantity: Five. Size (largest petals): Length: Top petal: About 3 cm. Middle petals: About 4 cm. Bottom petals: About 4.5 cm. Width: Top petal: About 5 cm. Middle petals: About 3.5 cm. Bottom petals: About 5 cm. Shape: Cordate with emarginate apex, cuneate or obtuse base and entire margin. Texture: Satiny, smooth. Color: When opening, upper surface: Iridescent, brighter than 40A. When opening, lower surface Iridescent, 40C. Fully opened, upper surface: Iridescent, brighter than 40A. Fully opened, lower surface: Iridescent, 40D. Fading to: Color does not fade.

Spur.--Length: 5 to 5.5 cm. Shape: Narrow and curved. Color: 59A.

Peduncles.--Length: About 5 cm. Angle: Upright. Strength: Strong. Color: 59A.

Reproductive organs.--Androecium: Stamen number: Five, anthers fused, filaments free. Anther shape: Obovate. Anther size: 7 by 4 mm. Anther color: Cream. Amount of pollen: Moderate. Pollen color: Cream. Gynoecium: Five-loculate fused. Gynoecium color: 144A.

Disease resistance: Under commercial conditions, resistance nor susceptibility to pathogens has not been observed.

Seed development: Seed production is not usually observed.

                  CHART A                                                          ______________________________________                                         CHARACTERISTIC                                                                              `XANTHIA`     `ORANGE`                                            ______________________________________                                         GROWTH HABIT Mounded and compact                                                                          Upright and mounded                                 PLANT HEIGHT About 18 cm   About 22 cm                                         PLANT WIDTH  About 18 cm   About 22 cm                                         LATERAL BRANCH                                                                              About 8 cm    11 to 12 cm                                         LENGTH                                                                         LATERAL BRANCH                                                                              About 1 cm    About 1.2 cm                                        DIAMETER                                                                       INTERNODE LENGTH                                                                            3 to 4 cm     6 to 7 cm                                           STEM COLOR   146A with stripes of                                                                         148A with stripes of                                             60B           59B                                                 LEAF LENGTH  About 12 cm   14 to 16 cm                                         LEAF WIDTH   3.5 to 4 cm   About 5.5 cm                                        LEAF TEXTURE Smooth, glossy                                                                               Smooth, somewhat                                                               glossy                                              LEAF COLOR,  Greener than 146A                                                                            Greener than 137A                                   YOUNG, UPPER                                                                   SURFACE                                                                        LEAF COLOR,  147C          138B                                                YOUNG, LOWER                                                                   SURFACE                                                                        LEAF COLOR,  147A          Greener than 147A                                   MATURE, UPPER                                                                  SURFACE                                                                        LEAF COLOR,  147C          147B                                                MATURE, LOWER                                                                  SURFACE                                                                        LEAF VENATION                                                                               58C           59D                                                 COLOR, UPPER                                                                   SURFACE                                                                        LEAF VENATION                                                                               59A           59B                                                 COLOR, LOWER                                                                   SURFACE                                                                        PETIOLE LENGTH                                                                              4 to 4.5 cm   About 5 cm                                          PETIOLE DIAMETER                                                                            About 4 mm    About 5 mm                                          PETIOLE COLOR                                                                               182A          185B                                                FLOWER SHAPE Rounded triangular                                                                           Star-shaped                                         FLOWER LENGTH                                                                               About 7 cm    About 6.5 cm                                        FLOWER WIDTH About 6.5 cm  About 6.2 cm                                        PETAL COLOR, WHEN                                                                           Brighter than 40A                                                                            Brighter than 40A                                   OPENING, UPPER                                                                 SURFACE                                                                        PETAL COLOR, WHEN                                                                           40C           40B                                                 OPENING, LOWER                                                                 SURFACE                                                                        PETAL COLOR, Brighter than 40A                                                                            Brighter than 40A                                   OPENED, UPPER                                                                  SURFACE                                                                        PETAL COLOR, 40D           40D                                                 OPENED, LOWER                                                                  SURFACE                                                                        PETAL COLOR  40A           40B                                                 FADING TO                                                                      SPUR LENGTH  5 to 5.5 cm   About 7 cm                                          PEDUNCLE LENGTH                                                                             About 5 cm    5.5 to 6 cm                                         PEDUNCLE COLOR                                                                              59A           144B with stripes of                                                           59A                                                 FLOWER BUD COLOR                                                                            40A/45A       40A/43A                                             ______________________________________                                     

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea Impatiens plant named `Xanthia`, as illustrated and described. 